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Supermarket Accidents
It would be fair to say that supermarkets are something of a modern phenomenon. There are around 250 million people who shop regularly in supermarket stores in the US. One retail chain alone has up to 2000 stores nationwide. Every city, town and almost every village has a convenience store.
The casualty numbers are not publicized by the larger stores. There are many thousands of incidents that go unreported because the accident victim is simply too embarrassed to take the matter further or make a report to the store manager.
A great many injuries are caused by shoppers slipping on produce (fruit for example) or debris left on the floor. The tiled surface can become extremely hazardous when wet or when objects such as paper or plastic are dropped.
The supermarket manager have a legal duty to ensure that customers are able to shop safely and that any hazards are quickly identified. Spillages, breakages, obstacles and obstructions must all be dealt with to avoid the risk of injury being sustained by shoppers.
Most stores operate an aisle inspection program which involves rigorous checking of the aisles at regular intervals during the day. Staff are expected to report and deal with any hazards as soon as practicable. While the duties imposed are onerous they are nevertheless entirely justified and very much in the public interest.
It is recommended to take the following steps by anyone suffering injury or harm inside a supermarket:
- Report the accident to a member of staff immediately and ensure a full record of the event is made.
- Seek medical attention � attend the local hospital or your GP for advice.
- Try to take down details of any witnesses (This may be difficult if you are in pain but such evidence can be crucial)
- Take photos of the area or the object / spillage that caused you to slip (mobile phone cameras are excellent for this purpose)
- Contact a lawyer to discuss a your legal position if you feel that you wish to take the matter further.
If you have suffered personal injury in a supermarket, you may be able to claim compensation. This may include a sum for pain and suffering together with treatment costs and loss of earnings.